Cotton baling press



July 26, 1932. w, L, HANC K E AL 1,868,829

COTTON BALING PRESS Filed June 4, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 26, 1932. w L. HANCOCK ET AL COTTON BALING PRESS Filed June 4, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwventoz 2r caa 4 5- c. Waa%4 Mum July 26, 1932-.

W. L. HANCOCK ET AL COTTON BALING PRESS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 gwwmtos Filed June 4, J 1928 Patented July 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM L. HANCOCK AND BRONSON C. WOODFORD, F DALLAS, TEXAS, ASSIGNORS TO THE MURRAY COMPANY, OF DALLAS, TEXAS, A CORPORATION OF TEXAS COTTON BALING PRESS Application filed June 4, 1928. .Serial No. 282,753.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in cotton baling presses.

One object of the invention isto provide an improved press frame possessing greater stability and making forsimplicity, efiiciency and compactness in mounting the ram head, boxes, tramper and other parts. v

Another object of the invention is to provide in the lower boxes inside corner guide 10 angles arranged vertically for securing the box together in a substantial manner, for guiding the bale and also for providing stops for the lower ends of the end doors. A further object of the invention is to construct the upper and lower boxes with a continuous upward flare for the purpose of relieving the frictional resistance offered to the upward movement of the bale, as it is compressed also whereby condensation of the of one corner of one of the boxes, A still further object of the invention is to cotton under the tramper is assisted provide the upper edges of the end and'side doors with inward bevels to prevent the lint cotton from wedging between the said doors and the top platen.

Another object of the invention is to provide sheet metal protectors for the battens of the top platen and the follow block, to facilitate threading the bale tie bands be- T tween the battens.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an upper box wherein the side doors are provided with angle braces for the end doors, extending the full height of the box, and preventing bulging'or warping of the doors'and making for greater safety while the bale is being compressed. p

An important object of the invention is'to provide the follow block with depending legs t at each corner operating contiguously to the corner angle guides of the lower box, and hanging below the sill of the upper box, when the side doors are open, to prevent the cotton bale jumping from the box when one of said side doors is first opened.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily under- 5 stood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown and wherein: I

Fig. 1 is an elevation of abaling press con structed in accordance with the invention,

' Fig. 2 is an end view of the same, partially in section and partially in elevation,

I Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line '33 of Fig. 1, V i Fig. 4 is anenlarged transverse verticalsectional view taken on the line 44 ofFig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the upper center bearing, 1 I I Fig. 6 is a detail of the box support,

Fig.7 is a detail of the lower center bear ing Fig. 8 is an enlarged partial end elevation of one of the boxes,

Fig. 9 is ahorizontal cross-sectional view .fFig. 10 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 1010 of Fig. 1. I

In the drawings the numeral 10 designates the upright'end channel member of a press frame. 7 This channel is secured at its bottom between channel sills 11. At the opposite ends'of the sillstwin braces 12 are fas tened between said sills (Fig. 3) and the lower end of a center post 13 is fastened be tween said braces. The sills constitute the base of the frame and provide a'substantial support. I I

The center post is preferably in theform' of an Hchannel, but this is subject to varia: tion. Top platens 14 are'secured on each side of the upper end of the end member 10 and have their inner ends connected by a brace 15 (Fig .10), which is supported on the upper end of the post 13. The platens also support a masthead 16 contiguousto the brace and this head supports one end of a pair of girders 17 on which the tramper (not shown) A is supported. The outer ends of the girders are carried by a standard 18 mounted on the floor 19.

The parts which have been described form the press frame which, aside from its sturdy and rigid construction, has many advantages,

someof which will be hereinafter pointed out. While channel members have been shown and described and possess considerable value, the invention is not to be limited to the same. The parts may be bolted, riveted or otherwise secured, but bolting is preferable as it permits dismantling and assembling, thereby facilitating transportation and shipping.

In cotton presses of the double box type it is advantageous to have the boxes mounted for ready turning and easy handling. In providing this feature an elongated box frame 19 is centrally mounted on a turntable 20 (Fig. 7). The turntable is carried on ball bearings 21 mounted in the race of a bearing sleeve 22.

As is shown in Fig. 1, the sleeve rests upon a stool 23 supported on set screws 23 resting on the base sills. The parts are substantially supported, capable of sustaining heavy loads and readily manipulated. By adju. ting the screws 23' the sleeve is moved vertically and the lower bearing and boxes are brought to the proper elevation.

Lower boxes 24 have their lower ends secured within the box frame 19 on each side of the turntable, the inner end panels of said boxes resting in seats 25 on opposite sides of the turntable. The boxes are formed of upright boards and also supported in an upper frame 26, similar to the frame 19. Diagonal angle braces 27 are fastened to the sides of the boxes, diverging from the center of the lower frame. The usual circular platform 28 surrounds the boxes and is carried on the upper frame 26 (Figs. 1, 2 and 1). Struts 29 inclined from the frame 19 support the outlying portions of the platform and provide a rigid structure.

In order to prevent tilting of the boxes and platform due to the action of the tramper and the ram and also to support the boxes, shoes 30 are fastened on the ends of the lower frame 19 (Figs. 1 and 6). On the side opposite the sills 11 a pillow block 31 is mounted on a base 32. A thrust roller 33 mounted in a bearing pedestal 3& receives and supports one of the shoes.

An important feature resiees in angular vertical corner guides 35 (Fig. 1). These metal guides being secured in the corners of the boxes not only form guide-ways for the follow block. butsecurely tie the ends and sides of the boxes together. The guides extend beyond the upper edges of the boxes. The boxes also extend above the platform.

Upper boxes comprising end doors 36 and side doors 3? are mounted on the lower boxes. End bars 38 (Figs. 2 and 8) are arranged transversely across the upper ends of the lower boxes and have hinge brackets 39 secured to their ends. Hinge shafts to are journaled in said brackets and the lower portions of the side doors are fastened on said shafts by angle bars t1; each shaft being square, in cross-section, between said bars and round where it passes through the brackets.

The upper ends of the guides 35 are cut off at the level of the shafts, so as to leave end lugs extending above the upper edges of the ends of the lower boxes. These lugs form inner stops for the lower ends of the end doors 36. The meeting edges of the doors 36 and the end panels of the lower boxes are beveled outwardly and downwardly (Fig 5). whereby said doors are retained behind the bars 38.

The end doors have vertical angular stays 4:3 resting on end bars 38. Stops 44 carried on the outer faces of end doors rest upon the end bars. The side doors 37 have vertical angle cleats 15 overlapping the vertical edges of the end doors 36, thus bracing said end doors against outward displacement.

Suitable retaining dogs 16 project through slots t? in the side doors and may be of any suitable construction, such as is shown in copending application filed April 30th, 1928. Serial No. 274,030. The side door may be fastened in any suitable manner, as by the means also shown in said co-pending application. The fastening means and the dogs orm no part of this invention. In general he door fastening means comprises keeper oks 18 carried by the end doors and latch rs 19 mounted on the side doors and ensaid hooks. upper centering bearing includes a spreader 5O having beveled ends 51 aging in the channel bars 38 at the center of. A sleeve 52 has its lower end resti an annular seat in the spreader and suirounding the post 13. The turntable 2O rotatably supports the boxes, while the spreader 50 and sleeve 52 center said boxes. thus assuring easy rotating and maintaining vertical alinement. One of the features is that the turntable 20, sleeve 22, stool 23. spreader 50 and sleeve 52 are all split vertically, thus permitting said parts to be as sembled on the post and suitably bolted in place after the frame is erected.

The side doors may be counterbalanced in any suitable manner and we have shown (Fig. 8) arms 5st fastened on the inner adjaient ends of the shafts 40. These arms each have a grooved rocker 55 to one end of which a chain 56 is connected; said chain supporting a coiled spring 57 attached to the lower box frame 19. This construction is not a part of this invention.

hen one of the side doors 37 is swung outward, its hinge shaft 10 will swing the arm 54 attached thereto, thus picking up the chain 56 and tensioning the spring 57 and thereby counterbalancing said door. Any suitable device may be used for this purpose.

A top platen 5S composed of spaced bats is secured to the bottoms of the beams 1 1 and a metal guard sheet 59 is secured on top of the platen. The bottom of each lower box is open and a follow block is supported therein. Each block includes spaced bats 61 secured transversely of channel bars 62, between which are mounted I-beams 63 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4). A metal protector sheet 64 is fastened under the bats. The sheets 59 and 64 prevent the bale tie bands projecting beyond the bats and confine said bands to the spaces between said bats.

The block includes a cap plate 65 secured to the under side of the bars 62 and beams 63 for receiving the cap 66 of the ram plunger '67. The sills 11 permit the use of an inverted ram head 68 fastened on said sills and depending therebetween. The ram cylinder 69 is secured to the head. This structure affords a saving of several inches in height lgetween the sills and the bottom of the lower Each follow block 60 is of'such area as to slide freely in the guides 35 and is carried upward in the boxes by the ram plunger '67. ltach lower box 24 and the adjacent upper box formed by the doors 36 and 37 is flared upwardly. As this flare is only about one inch in several feet, it is not shown in the drawings. The advantage of this flare is that the skin resistance offered by the side walls of the boxes to the upward compression of the cotton, is reduced. When the box is under the tramper the upward flare will have a condensing effect because the cotton is forced from the wider upper end to the narrower lower end, thus producing more efticient tramping.

Each follow block has depending legs 70 which hang in the upperends of the guides 35 when the side doors are open, thus preventing the block from jumping out of the box.

It will be noticed (Fig. 4) that the upper edges of the doors 36 and 37 are bevelled inwardly. This prevents the cotton from wedging between said doors and the bats of the top platen 58.

The doors of the upper boxes are conveniently and efliciently arranged. When the upper box is assembled the end doors 36 are merely set into the seats formed by'the end bars 38 and the bevel edges of the end panels of the lower boxes (Fig. 5). Upon open-. ing the side doors 37 the. cleats 45 are withdrawn and the enddoors 36 swing outward against the post 13 and the channel 10, their lower ends being retained by the lugs 42.

In setting the press frame it is necessary to have the sills 11 substantially level and as these sills are usually placed on a concrete slab or other rigid flat support, set screws 11 are provided in the lower flanges of the.

bracketed to the standard 18. This is an- 7 other important feature and lends stability to the press.

Various changes in the size and shape of the different parts, as well as modifications and alterations, maybe made within the scope of the appended claims.

-What we claim, is: 1. In a cotton press, a center post, transverse channel bars on each side of thepost, press boxes having their ends secured to said bars, a spreader having opposite extensions engaging in said channel bars and surrounding said post, and a bearing member fastened on said post and engaging in said spreader for centering the press boxes 2. In a cotton press, a press box havingits upper portion composed of end and side doors, the side doors being hinged to the sides of the box, angle members secured vertically in the corners of the box and extending above the ends of the box, cross bars on the upper end of the box, the end doors being held between the cross bars and the upper ends of the angle members embracing members carried by the side doors and over-lapping the vertical edges of the end doors, and a follower block slidable vertically in the box, the angle members forming guides for the follower block.

3. In a cotton press, a pairv of horizontal metal base sills,.an upright metal end member, a central metalxpost angular in cross section, horizontal platen beamssecured to each side of the upper end of the end member and also fastened to each side of the upper end of the post, a spreader'rotatable around the post, a bearing member fastened on the post and engaging the spreader, press boxes engaged and spaced by the spreader, a turn table rotatable around the post and secured to the ends of the boxes, and a stool mounted on the base beams and rotatably supporting the turn table. I

4. In a cotton press, a metal frame, a center metal post angular in cross section and secured in the frame, a spreader rotatable around the post and free from contact therewith, an upper bearing member fastened on y the post and engaging the spreader, press boxes engaged and spaced by the spreader, a turn table rotatable around the post and free from contact therewith and secured to the ends of the boxes, a stool mounted on the 1.

base of the frame, and a bearing member carried by the stool and secured about the post for supporting the turn table.

In testimony whereof We mfix our signatures.

WILLIAM L. HANCOCK. BRONSON G. WOODFORD. 

